by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 6 U.S. colleges awarded 16 degrees and certificates in Materials Chemistry. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $72,216 one year after completing, rising to $111,529 after four years.
A degree in Materials Chemistry involves the study of Materials Chemistry. A Program That Focuses On The Synthesis And Study Of Organic Or Inorganic Materials And Their Electronic, Magnetic, Optical Or Mechanical Properties. Includes Instruction In Advanced Materials For Photonics, Lasers, Chemical Sensors And Arrays Or Nanochemistry; Semiconductor Nanowires; And Molecular Electronics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., materials chemistry draws strong interest, with 16 degrees awarded annually. 6 colleges award materials chemistry degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 7.
By level, the 16 awards include 2 bachelor’s degrees, 9 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of materials chemistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (8 of 16). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5) and Hispanic or Latino (2), and international students earned 5.
The most common materials chemistry credential is the master’s degree: 9 of the 16 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to materials chemistry call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a materials chemistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to materials chemistry, at 37.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.7% |
| Master’s degree | 17.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.1% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Materials Chemistry, with an average median salary of $100,293; the strongest outlook belongs to Quality Control Analysts, at 12.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator and Postdoctoral Researcher.
The occupation related to materials chemistry with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Quality Control Analysts | 105,873 | 12.9% |
| Chemists | 91,666 | 3.1% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | 71,781 | 0.4% |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | 30,427 | -2.2% |
Materials Chemistry graduates earn a median $72,216 one year after completing their program, $111,529 after four years and $89,182 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $72,216 |
| 4 years | $111,529 |
| 5 years | $89,182 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to materials chemistry is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Materials Scientists | $101,265 |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | $99,834 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $95,957 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Chemists | $59,779 |
Materials Chemistry has 2 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 617 degrees a year; the largest are Materials Science (595) and Materials Sciences, Other (22). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Materials Science | 595 |
| Materials Sciences, Other | 22 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.